Atlanta has always been an economic force. Essential to the South during the Civil War, it was the first city targeted during the Union’s “total war.” The birthplace of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and its first leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta was at the forefront of the civil rights movement. In 1973, Atlanta was the first city to elect a black mayor. Now, it continues to be a hotspot for both tourism and commerce.

Known as the “Magic City,” Birmingham was created at the end of the Civil War with the explicit purpose of bringing successful northern industries to the South. Nearly one hundred mostly prosperous years later, the city became a focus of the civil rights movement. Although scarred by tragedy during that period, modern Birmingham, Alabama’s largest city, is a key industrial center for the nation and is often named as a favorable city for business and quality of life.

Witness to one of the defining moments in the U.S. civil rights movement, Little Rock, Ark., made history in 1957 when nine African American students tested federal anti-segregation laws in public schools for the first time. Even before that seminal 1957 event, Little Rock had been the scene of both progress and setbacks for African Americans in their struggle for equality and civil rights. Today, Little Rock is a thriving center of business and government, as well as home to a nascent tourism industry.

Decades of history come full circle in Montgomery, Ala. The pursuit of equal rights for all people links many of the city's historic events, from the controversy over slavery that launched the Civil War, to the civil rights movement of the 20th century; the events and places of Montgomery's past and future seem destined to meet up with each other.

Despite having lost some of its counterculture luster, the central California coast is an intriguing area of the country to visit and maintains a free-spirited allure. Along the Pacific Coast Highway, between Salinas and Big Sur, discover the setting for John Steinbeck’s novels, visit the family-friendly Nit Wit Ridge and learn about a woodsy Jack Kerouac hideout.

Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent country and is ruled by the Pope, known as the Bishop of Rome. But Vatican City’s close proximity to Rome makes it almost synonymous with the “eternal city.” Learn more about the abundance of history, art and artifacts in Vatican City, which led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Plymouth, for a small group of Americans, is the source of their ancestry in North America. But for most of us, it is Chapter One of the history of the United States and the origin of Thanksgiving. Learn about the Native American tribe that called Plymouth (originally spelled “Plimoth”) home, and discover Web sites that explore the historic landmark.

In November, San Francisco is caught between the warm early fall and the approaching winter months. But while Bay Area weather is notoriously difficult to contend with, San Francisco’s array of activity options makes it easy to plan a stay.